Thursday, March 15
Fort Collins, CO
7 p.m. MT
Colorado State
vs
Western Illinois
Rams host Western Illinois in round one of Postseason WNIT on Thursday
3/14/2018 3:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Rams face Leathernecks at 7 p.m. MT on Thursday at Moby Arena
Colorado State Rams (20-11) vs. Western Illinois Leathernecks (22-9)
Thursday, March 15 | 7 p.m. MT
Moby Arena | Fort Collins, Colo.
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network) | Facebook Live
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KARS 102.9 FM) | TuneIn App
Live Stats: Sidearm
Colorado State Women's Basketball: Twitter | Tickets | Weekly Release
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team will return home this Thursday as the Rams begin the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) against the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Opening tip between Colorado State (20-11) and Western Illinois (22-9) is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT from Moby Arena on Thursday. Should CSU advance past the Leathernecks, the Rams would face the winner of the first-round matchup between South Dakota and Houston. That potential game would take place between March 17-20 at a date, time and location to be determined.
Tickets remain available for Thursday's WNIT action, and may be purchased at CSURams.com/tickets or through a call to 800-491-RAMS (7267). Parking is available for $5 (cash only) in the Moby Arena parking lot. CSU's new clear bag system will continue to be in effect in an effort to increase the safety of all fans in attendance, and information on that system can be found here.
Western Illinois (22-9) will be making its third Postseason WNIT appearance and third consecutive postseason appearance after a 2016 WBI berth and a 2017 NCAA Tournament berth. The Leathernecks placed third in the Summit League with their only losses to South Dakota and South Dakota State, and defeated then-No. 18 Stanford in non-conference play.
Live video will be available through CSURams.com/live (MW Network) and through Facebook Live via the team's official Facebook page. Live audio will also be available via the CSU Radio Network, and can be found on KARS 102.9 FM and on the TuneIn app. Matthew Wozniak will provide play-by-play for each. Live stats will also be available. Each can be found in the links above or on the women's basketball schedule page on CSURams.com.
A Colorado State Win on Thursday Would…
- Advance Colorado State to round two of the Postseason WNIT and set up a matchup against Houston or South Dakota at a time and location to be determined between March 17-20.
- Mark the second consecutive season that Colorado State has won a postseason game. CSU defeated Saint Mary's in overtime, 80-68, in last year's Postseason WNIT.
Record Watch
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen is shooting .448 (65-for-145) from three-point range to this point in the season. That mark is on pace to finish second on the CSU single-season three-point field goal percentage list behind only the record held by Vanessa Espinoza (2003-04 - .455, 51-for-112).
- Austgulen's career three-point field goal percentage is currently .394 (146-for-371), which ranks fourth on CSU's all-time list. The senior ranks only behind Brenda Brunner (.415), Vanessa Espinoza (.414) Becky Hammon (.411).
- Austgulen is also currently ranked in CSU's all-time top 10 in career three-point field goals made with 146. She sits in eighth behind Ashley Augspurger (seventh – 172).
- As a team, Colorado State is holding opponents to 56.9 points per game, which is on pace to rank fourth in program history. The program record is 49.1 points per game, set in 1974-75. The Rams will finish in the all-time top 10 if they go on to allow 61.1 points per game or fewer.
- Colorado State's three-point field goal percentage defense of .271 currently ranks third in program history. The record was set by the 2015-16 Rams, which held opponents to a combined .257 (141-for-549) three-point field goal percentage. The Rams will finish in the program's all-time top 10 by holding opponents to a .306 mark or better from three-point range.
- Additionally, the Rams' current field goal percentage defense of .347 ranks fifth on the program's all-time single-season list. The 1974-75 Rams set the current program record of .303 (344-for-1,136). The Rams will finish in the top 10 if they finish with a field goal percentage defense of .383 or better.
- Colorado State has made 199 three-point field goals this season, which places ninth by a single team in CSU's all-time top 10. The 2009-10 Rams rank 10th with 183, while the 2015-16 Rams rank eighth with 207.
- Colorado State has 115 blocks this season to rank fourth in a single season in program history. This year's team ranks behind only the 2012-13 Rams (first – 140), the 2013-14 team (second – 120) and the 2016-17 club (third – 118).
Game Day Storylines
- Colorado State has been one of the nation's top defensive teams during sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams' tenure, and the Rams are once again this season. CSU ranks sixth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.347) this season, 11th nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (.271) and 29th nationally in scoring defense (56.9 allowed per game).
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen ranks as one of the NCAA's elite sharpshooters so far this season, as her .448 three-point field goal percentage ranks 11th in the nation. Her 2.2 three-pointers per game in conference play rank fourth in the Mountain West.
- As a team, one of Colorado State's most favorable national statistical rankings is in the turnovers column. The Rams commit just 12.5 turnovers per game, which ranks 28th in the nation. Additionally, CSU has the nation's 32nd-lowest rate of personal fouls per game (14.6).
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy leads the team in scoring, and ranks 16th in the conference with 11.9 points per game. She is also 13th in the league in rebounding, corralling 6.2 boards per game. Additionally, the senior ranks 13th in the MW in field goal percentage (.451) and 11th in three-point field goal percentage (.364).
- Each of Annie Brady, Veronika Mirkovic, Sofie Tryggedsson and Austgulen are also ranked in the conference in rebounding. Brady places 16th (6.0/game) and Mirkovic is 23rd (5.0/game), while each of Tryggedsson and Austgulen are 38th (3.7/game).
- In addition to rebounding, Brady is also ranked in the conference in field goal percentage (14th - .445).
- Tryggedsson also ranks within the conference's top 15 in three-point field goals made per game (1.5).
- Mirkovic averages 0.7 blocks per game, which places her 15th in the league.
- Tvrdy ranks near the top of the league in minutes played, placing second with 35.6 per game. Austgulen is fifth with 33.6 minutes played per game.
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu's 12 made field goals against San Diego State on Jan. 3 are the third-most in a single game by any Mountain West player this season, as are Tvrdy's 12 against the Aztecs at home on Jan. 24. In addition, Colaivalu's 26 points against Boise State on Dec. 28, 2017 were the most by any player in a conference opener this season.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game over her first four conference games marks the best two-week start to Mountain West play in terms of scoring for any freshman in the Ryun Williams era.
- Freshman guard Lore Devos paced the Rams with 25 points in her collegiate debut against Idaho. No other CSU player has scored as many points in her debut in the now-six-year Ryun Williams era.
Scouting the Western Illinois Leathernecks
- The Western Illinois Leathernecks placed third in the Summit League in 2017-18, placing behind only South Dakota and South Dakota State. WIU went 22-9 with a 10-4 conference record, and lost only to USD and SDSU in league play before a loss to the Jackrabbits in the conference tournament.
- Among the notable wins for the Leathernecks this season was a 71-64 win at then-No. 18 Stanford on Dec. 18, 2017. WIU and CSU share two other common opponents, Gonzaga and Denver. The Rams defeated both teams, while the Leathernecks defeated Denver (118-93) and fell at Gonzaga (80-65).
- Offensively, Western Illinois ranks favorably among all NCAA schools in several major categories. WIU makes the third-most three-point field goals in the nation, and ranks 12th in scoring offense (81.6) as well as 22nd in scoring margin ( 15.0). The Leathernecks are also 12 in assists per game (18.0), 12th in personal fouls per game (13.5), seventh in steals per game (12.5) and fifth in turnover margin ( 7.5).
- Western Illinois' top player is Emily Clemens, who leads the team in scoring (18.2 points/game) and ranks fifth nationally in assists (7.5/game) as well as 10th nationally in steals (3.3/game). WIU's Taylor Higginbotham averages 16.5 points per game, and ranks 81st in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage (.378). Morgan Blumer ranks 96th in that category (.372), as well as 47th in three-point field goals made per game (2.7).
Rams in the Postseason for the Fifth Consecutive Season
- The Colorado State women's basketball team is set to return to the postseason for the fifth consecutive season, as the Rams received an at-large bid to the 2018 Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The organization announced its bracket on Monday, March 13.
- This marks the fourth WNIT appearance for Colorado State in the past five years under head coach Ryun Williams (2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17). Sandwiched in between those WNIT berths was an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016, the program's first since 2002.
- CSU had only made as many consecutive postseason appearances once in program history, with that streak occurring over 10 seasons ago (1998-04).
- Last season, Colorado State defeated Saint Mary's in the opening round of the Postseason WNIT, marking the program's first postseason win since 2003.
Hannah Tvrdy, Grace Colaivalu Earn Mountain West Honors for 2017-18 Regular Season
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy and freshman guard Grace Coalivalu of the Colorado State women's basketball team have received yearly honors from the Mountain West for their play during the 2017-18 regular season. The conference announced its accolades on Monday, March 5. Tvrdy earned All-Mountain West and Mountain West All-Defensive honors, while Colaivalu was selected to the Mountain West All-Freshman team.
- Tvrdy is the third Ram to be chosen All-Defensive since the accolade was first awarded in 2008-09 (Ellen Nystrom, Meghan Heimstra). Colaivalu is the first Mountain West All-Freshman selection from CSU since Elin Gustavsson and Ellen Nystrom in 2013-14.
- Tvrdy finished the season as the Rams' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in conference play. The Seward, Neb., native ranked ninth in the Mountain West in scoring in conference play, as well as ninth in rebounding, 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.384), fourth in defensive rebounding (5.3/game) and second in minutes played (35.4/game) in league games.
- Colaivalu finished the regular season as CSU's No. 3 scorer (7.8 points per game during conference play), and ranked 13th in the Mountain West and third among conference freshmen in field goal percentage (.464). The freshman from Sacramento, Calif., averaged 22 points per game over the Rams' first four Mountain West games this season, marking the highest average in any player's first four conference games in the Ryun Williams era.
Is 71 a Magic Number for the Rams?
- Under sixth-year coach Ryun Williams, the Colorado State women's basketball team has scored 71 points or more in a single game 56 times. When scoring at least 71 points in Williams' tenure, Colorado State is 56-1, with no losses in regulation.
- When scoring at least 71 points in a game in 2017-18, Colorado State is 6-0.
- The only loss ever suffered by CSU with a 71-point-plus offensive performance under Williams was on Nov. 29, 2014, an 87-81 double-overtime defeat at Colorado.
Finding the Right Combination
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has shuffled its lineup throughout the season, using 12 different starting lineup combinations between the 31 games it has played.
- While the Rams have used many different combinations, the makeup of most of those have been consistent. Each of Stine Austgulen, Veronika Mirkovic, Sofie Tryggedsson and Hannah Tvrdy have started at least 20 games this season.
- Colorado State has used four different lineups over the past eight games, but the majority of those lineups has remained the same. Austgulen, Tryggedsson and Tvrdy have been in each of those lineups, with the only position changing at forward (Annie Brady, Liah Davis or Mirkovic) or one guard position (Lore Devos/Jordyn Edwards).
Rams Earn No. 5 Seed in 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship
- The Colorado State women's basketball team finished the 2017-18 regular season with a 19-10 overall record and 11-7 conference mark. With those results, Colorado State earned the No. 5 seed in the 2017 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship.
- With its No. 5 seed this year, Colorado State earned a first-round bye in tournament play. The Rams have had a first-round bye in each of the five most recent conference tournaments.
- Colorado State had never previously been the No. 5 seed at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship. The Rams had only previously played as the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 8 or No. 9 seed in prior seasons.
- The last time a No. 5 seed won the MW Women's Basketball Championship was in 2011, when No. 5-seeded Utah came out on top in tournament play.
Ryun Williams Becomes CSU's All-Time Wins Leader
- With the Rams' over Wyoming on Jan. 31, sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams became the winningest coach in program history. That win was his 130th at Colorado State, passing former CSU coaching great Tom Collen for the program's all-time wins lead (129 for Collen from 1997-2002).
- Ryun Williams is also one of only three coaches in program history to win at least 100 games with the Rams, earning his 100th with the Rams' 70-67 overtime over San Jose State on Jan. 4, 2017.He joined Tom Collen and Greg Williams (108 wins).
- Ryun Williams already owns the most conference wins in program history, entering the season with a program-best 70 in Mountain West play. The previous record was held by Collen, who won 56 conference games as CSU head coach from 1997-02.
Hannah Tvrdy Named Mountain West Player of the Week on Jan. 29
- After averaging 22.0 points per game on .631 shooting (19-for-31) and 9.5 rebounds per game between wins over San Diego State and New Mexico, Hannah Tvrdy was named Mountain West Player of the Week. Her honor was announced on Monday, Jan. 29.
- Colorado State led SDSU by six at halftime in their win over the Aztecs, but it was a Tvrdy offensive outburst in the third quarter that put the game on ice. In that quarter, Tvrdy went 8-for-10 from the floor, pouring in 18 points to give the Rams a 65-38 lead heading to the fourth. CSU went on to win 72-43 as Tvrdy finished with 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting along with 10 rebounds.
- Tvrdy led CSU offensively once against in the Rams' 74-71 overtime win over New Mexico, scoring 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting with nine boards and a trio of assists. Her late-game heroics lifted the team once again, as she buried the go-ahead three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in extra time to give the Rams the win.
Colaivalu Lights Up Scoreboards in First Two Weeks of Mountain West Play
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu has made the most of her first opportunities at Mountain West action. In her first four career conference games, Colaivalu scored 88 points for an average of 22 points per game.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game were not just the most on the team – they were the most of any player in the Mountain West through two weeks.
- No freshman during the now-six-season Ryun Williams era has scored more points in her first four career Mountain West games. See below for a breakdown.
Most Points by CSU Freshmen in First Four MW Games Under Ryun Williams
88 (22.0 points per game) – Grace Colaivalu, 2017-18
54 (13.5 points per game) – Caitlin Duffy, 2012-13
40 (10.0 points per game) – Elin Gustavsson, 2013-14
Rams Set Tradition of Strong Defensive Play
- Since taking over the program prior to the 2012-13 season, head coach Ryun Williams has made strong defense a cornerstone of his vision for the program's success. Over the past four years, the Rams' defense has ranked among the nation's elite.
- Over the past four seasons, Colorado State has ranked no lower than 15th in the nation in field goal percentage defense. The Rams have ranked as high as second in the nation, and have previously placed within the nation's top six twice.
- See below for a breakdown of the Rams' national field goal percentage defense ranks over the past four years of Williams' tenure.
Notable National Field Goal Percentage Defense Ranks Under Ryun Williams
2017-18 – Fourth (.339)
2016-17 – Sixth (.339)
2015-16 – Second (.330)
2014-15 – 15th (.354)
Rams Match Second-Best 10-Game Start of Ryun Williams Era
- With its win over Prairie View A&M on Monday, Dec. 18, the Colorado State women's basketball team moved to 7-3 for the 2017-18 season, matching its second-best 10-game start under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams.
- Only one Williams-led CSU team compiled a better record through 10 games. The 2015-16 Rams went 9-1 through their first 10 contests before finishing with a 31-2 mark and a program record for win percentage (.939).
- Under Williams, every team to win at least six of its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular-season title and win at least 23 games.
Colorado State Under Ryun Williams in First 10 Games (Sorted by Best Start)
2015-16 – 9-1
2017-18 – 7-3
2014-15 – 7-3
2013-14 – 7-3
2016-17 – 6-4
2012-13 – 3-7
Annie Brady Named Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week
- After recording double-doubles against each of Prairie View A&M and Morgan State, Colorado State junior forward Annie Brady has been named the Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week. The conference announced Brady's honor on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
- Over those two games, the junior averaged 18.5 points per game on .581 (18-for-31) shooting and corralled 15.5 rebounds per game.
- Her first double-double of the week came in a 19-point, 14-rebound (seven offensive) effort in the Rams' 71-59 win over PVAMU. She followed that with an 18-point, 17-rebound performance to lead CSU to a 60-44 win over Morgan State in the Rams' nonconference finale. Brady shot 9-for-13 (.692) from the floor in that game.
- This marks the first weekly conference honor for Brady since she joined the Rams prior to this season. The Salt Lake City, Utah native is also the first Ram to receive one of the league's weekly honors this season.
Devos Makes Historic Debut for Rams
- Freshman guard Lore Devos made her first official appearance for Colorado State on Friday, Nov. 10 in the Rams' season-opener against Idaho. The Kortrijk, Belgium native opened her CSU career with 25 points, the most by any CSU freshman in a season opener in head coach Ryun Williams' six-year tenure.
- Devos was the Rams' leading scorer against Idaho, scoring her 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor and 5-for-5 shooting from the free throw line.
- The only other player to score at least 20 points in her debut for Williams was two-time Mountain West Player of the Year Ellen Nystrom. The former CSU standout from Sweden scored 20 points in her first career game for CSU, a win over UCCS on Nov. 8, 2013.
Most Points Scored by a CSU Freshman in a Season Opener Under Ryun Williams
Lore Devos (2017-18 season) – 25 points
Ellen Nystrom (2013-14 season) – 20 points
Taylor Varsho (2012-13 season) – 19 points
Callie Kaiser (2015-16 season) – 13 points
Elin Gustavsson (2013-14 season) – 10 points
Quick 2017-18 Season Storylines
- The Colorado State women's basketball team is off to a 7-3 start this season, matching its second-best 10-game start of the now-six-year Ryun Williams era. Each CSU team with at least seven wins in its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular season title and at least 23 games.
- Colorado State is fresh off its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, distinguishing the program as one of 12 teams in the nation – women's and men's basketball – to have an active streak at least that long.
- No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won as many regular-season conference titles consecutively. In addition, the Rams have won all four of those outright. Of teams to win consecutive MW regular-season titles, no other team has won more than two outright.
- Colorado State was picked to finish third in the conference this season by league coaches and select media. The Rams received six first-place votes en route to 211 points and that third place projection. The Rams rank behind only Boise State (seven FPV, 221 points) and Wyoming (six FPV, 216 points).
- The Rams return three of five starters and seven letterwinners from last year's team. Hannah Tvrdy is the Rams' returning leader in each of points (8.3), rebounds (4.6) and assists (2.4) per game.
- CSU also looks to be solid from beyond the three-point arc this season. The Rams return 80 percent of their three-point production from last season, as 203 of 255 threes made last year were made by returning players.
- Mixing with that veteran core returning for Colorado State is a group of eight underclassmen, as sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams grooms one of the youngest CSU rosters over his tenure. In terms of what percentage of the roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores (53.3 percent), CSU ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team.
- Although the Rams' roster is largely composed of youth, the Mountain West also looks to be one of the nation's youngest conferences. The Rams are the fifth-youngest team in the conference when measured by the same criteria above.
Rams' Four Consecutive Regular-Season Conference Titles Ranks Among Nation's Elite
- The Colorado State women's basketball team made history this past season by winning its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. That feat had never been previously accomplished by any women's or men's basketball team in conference history.
- That active streak of four consecutive regular-season conference titles ranks the Rams among the nation's elite. Between both women's and men's NCAA Division I basketball, only 11 other programs in the nation have a current streak that is as long or better.
- On the women's side, the programs are Baylor, Chattanooga, Connecticut, DePaul, Green Bay, Notre Dame and defending national champion South Carolina.
- Only four men's teams have a streak at least as long at the CSU women: Gonzaga, Kansas, Villanova and Wichita State.
Regular-Season Conference Titles Won – Best Active Division I Streaks (Women's and Men's Basketball)
Kansas (men's) – 13 (Big 12)
Green Bay (women's) – 11 (Horizon)
Baylor (women's) – Seven (Big 12)
Chattanooga (women's) – Five (Southern)
Gonzaga (men's) – Five (West Coast)
Wichita State (men's) – Five (Missouri Valley)
Colorado State (women's) – Four (Mountain West)
Connecticut (women's) – Four (American)
DePaul (women's) – Four (Big East)
South Carolina (women's) – Four (SEC)
Villanova (men's) – Four (Big East)
Rams Enter 2017-18 as One of Nation's Youngest Teams
- While the Rams' 2017-18 roster is largely made of a veteran group of seven upperclassmen, the bulk of the Rams' roster this season comes from the ranks of underclassmen. A combined eight freshmen and sophomores make up 53.3 percent (eight of 15) of the roster, while the six freshmen make up 40 percent.
- In terms of what percentage of the roster is comprised of underclassmen, Colorado State ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team. If measured by percentage of freshman relative to the overall roster, CSU's 40 percent is the 10th-highest in the nation.
- However, the Mountain West also shapes up to be a very young conference this season. Each of San Jose State (80 percent), Utah State (76.9 percent), Air Force (76.5 percent) and Fresno State (69 percent) are younger than Colorado State by underclassmen on the roster.
Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Underclassmen
1. UNCG – 87.7 percent
2. FIU – 80 percent
2. San Jose State – 80 percent
4. Utah State – 76.9 percent
5. Air Force – 76.5 percent
12. Fresno State – 69 percent
18. Colorado State – 53.3 percent
Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Freshmen
1. Savannah State – 64.3 percent
1. Fordham – 64.3 percent
3. Air Force – 58.8 percent
4. San Jose State – 53 percent
5. FIU – 50 percent
5. Elon – 50 percent
10. Colorado State – 40 percent
Rams Projected to Finish Third in the Mountain West in 2017-18
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has been voted by league coaches and select media to finish third in the Mountain West in 2017-18, as announced by the conference on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
- Colorado State, which is coming off an unprecedented fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, earned 211 points and six first-place votes en route to its third-place projection. The only team to earn more first-place votes was Boise State, which received a league-best 221 points and was picked to win the conference by seven voters. Wyoming (216 points, six first-place votes) narrowly edged CSU for second in the voting.
- New Mexico and UNLV, which were picked fourth and fifth respectively, were the only other schools to receive first-place votes. The Lobos received four first-place votes and 186 points, while the Lady Rebels received 185 points were picked No. 1 by two voters.
- The Rams had been picked to win the Mountain West in each of the past three preseason Mountain West polls and four times overall. Behind only those three first-place projections, this is the Rams' fourth-highest projection under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams. The Rams were picked seventh before winning the conference in 2013-14 and fifth before Williams first season at CSU (2012-13).
2017-18 Mountain West Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rank/Team (First-Place Votes) - Points
1. Boise State (7 FPV) - 221 points
2. Wyoming (6) - 216
3. Colorado State (6) - 211
4. New Mexico (4) - 186
5. UNLV (2) - 185
6. Utah State - 136
7. Fresno State - 117
8. San Diego State - 102
9. San José State - 61
10. Nevada - 60
11. Air Force - 29
Rams Return Bulk of Production from Three-Point Range
- Although the Rams lost substantial production in many categories with the departure of last year's senior class, one area the team did not lose much in is three-point shooting. As a team, the Rams return 80 percent of their three-point field goals made from last season.
- 203 of the 255 threes made by the Rams last year were made by returning players. Stine Austgulen led the Rams last season with 53 three-point field goals made.
- Austgulen and Hannah Tvrdy return as two of the top three-point shooters in the Mountain West, ranking No. 14 and No. 7 in three-point field goal percentage last season, respectively.
- Notably, junior Myanne Hamm ranked fifth in MW in three-point field goal percentage during conference play (.400), while junior Sofie Tryggedsson ranked 14th in the MW with 1.5 three-point field goals per game during conference play.
Dropping Knowledge
- Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams has been selected as one of 32 voters for the USA TODAY Sports Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. The panel, which is chosen by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), votes weekly throughout the regular season.
- The voters are chosen based upon the 32 conferences that receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Each conference has one representative, and the names of the voters are published along with each week's poll.
The 2016-17 Season at a Glance
- Colorado State accomplished many feats in 2016-17, but none was greater than winning its historic fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won the conference in four consecutive seasons other than the CSU women.
- CSU reached the postseason for the fourth straight season under now-sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams with an automatic berth to the Postseason WNIT. The Rams defeated Saint Mary's at Moby Arena in the first round of the tournament, marking the Rams' first postseason win since 2003.
- On Dec. 18, 2016, CSU defeated Seattle, 66-62, to record the team's 22nd consecutive win at Moby Arena. That broke the previous record for consecutive wins at home, which was previously 21 straight from 1998-99.
- The Rams also set two different records for consecutive conference wins between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The Rams had won 22 straight games against conference foes when including postseason games, and 25 games against conference opponents in regular-season contests.
- Overall, the CSU's 25 wins tie for the fourth-most in program history, while the Rams' 15 conference wins tie for the second-most in program history.
- Ryun Williams posted his fourth consecutive season with 15 Mountain West wins or more, bringing his career MW record to 70-18. His current MW win percentage of .795 ranks as the best of any coach in Mountain West history.
- Williams also became the third coach in program history to reach 100 wins at CSU, and has the second-most wins at CSU (115) in school history. Tom Collen owns the all-time record with 129 wins at CSU.
- Williams' 70 Mountain West wins also rank as by far the most conference wins in CSU history.
- Ellen Nystrom, who graduated after the 2016-17 season, repeated as Mountain West Player of the Year after earning that honor in 2015-16. The Rams have had the conference player of the year in three consecutive seasons, as Gritt Ryder earned honor as a senior in 2014-15.
- Nystrom and fellow 2016-17 senior Elin Gustavsson departed CSU as the winningest players in conference play in Mountain West history. The senior duo from Sweden won 63 MW games over their careers at CSU, which is by far the most of any athlete – women's or men's basketball – in conference history.
Thursday, March 15 | 7 p.m. MT
Moby Arena | Fort Collins, Colo.
Live Video: CSURams.com/live (MW Network) | Facebook Live
Live Audio: CSU Radio Network (KARS 102.9 FM) | TuneIn App
Live Stats: Sidearm
Colorado State Women's Basketball: Twitter | Tickets | Weekly Release
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State women's basketball team will return home this Thursday as the Rams begin the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) against the Western Illinois Leathernecks.
Opening tip between Colorado State (20-11) and Western Illinois (22-9) is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT from Moby Arena on Thursday. Should CSU advance past the Leathernecks, the Rams would face the winner of the first-round matchup between South Dakota and Houston. That potential game would take place between March 17-20 at a date, time and location to be determined.
Tickets remain available for Thursday's WNIT action, and may be purchased at CSURams.com/tickets or through a call to 800-491-RAMS (7267). Parking is available for $5 (cash only) in the Moby Arena parking lot. CSU's new clear bag system will continue to be in effect in an effort to increase the safety of all fans in attendance, and information on that system can be found here.
Western Illinois (22-9) will be making its third Postseason WNIT appearance and third consecutive postseason appearance after a 2016 WBI berth and a 2017 NCAA Tournament berth. The Leathernecks placed third in the Summit League with their only losses to South Dakota and South Dakota State, and defeated then-No. 18 Stanford in non-conference play.
Live video will be available through CSURams.com/live (MW Network) and through Facebook Live via the team's official Facebook page. Live audio will also be available via the CSU Radio Network, and can be found on KARS 102.9 FM and on the TuneIn app. Matthew Wozniak will provide play-by-play for each. Live stats will also be available. Each can be found in the links above or on the women's basketball schedule page on CSURams.com.
A Colorado State Win on Thursday Would…
- Advance Colorado State to round two of the Postseason WNIT and set up a matchup against Houston or South Dakota at a time and location to be determined between March 17-20.
- Mark the second consecutive season that Colorado State has won a postseason game. CSU defeated Saint Mary's in overtime, 80-68, in last year's Postseason WNIT.
Record Watch
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen is shooting .448 (65-for-145) from three-point range to this point in the season. That mark is on pace to finish second on the CSU single-season three-point field goal percentage list behind only the record held by Vanessa Espinoza (2003-04 - .455, 51-for-112).
- Austgulen's career three-point field goal percentage is currently .394 (146-for-371), which ranks fourth on CSU's all-time list. The senior ranks only behind Brenda Brunner (.415), Vanessa Espinoza (.414) Becky Hammon (.411).
- Austgulen is also currently ranked in CSU's all-time top 10 in career three-point field goals made with 146. She sits in eighth behind Ashley Augspurger (seventh – 172).
- As a team, Colorado State is holding opponents to 56.9 points per game, which is on pace to rank fourth in program history. The program record is 49.1 points per game, set in 1974-75. The Rams will finish in the all-time top 10 if they go on to allow 61.1 points per game or fewer.
- Colorado State's three-point field goal percentage defense of .271 currently ranks third in program history. The record was set by the 2015-16 Rams, which held opponents to a combined .257 (141-for-549) three-point field goal percentage. The Rams will finish in the program's all-time top 10 by holding opponents to a .306 mark or better from three-point range.
- Additionally, the Rams' current field goal percentage defense of .347 ranks fifth on the program's all-time single-season list. The 1974-75 Rams set the current program record of .303 (344-for-1,136). The Rams will finish in the top 10 if they finish with a field goal percentage defense of .383 or better.
- Colorado State has made 199 three-point field goals this season, which places ninth by a single team in CSU's all-time top 10. The 2009-10 Rams rank 10th with 183, while the 2015-16 Rams rank eighth with 207.
- Colorado State has 115 blocks this season to rank fourth in a single season in program history. This year's team ranks behind only the 2012-13 Rams (first – 140), the 2013-14 team (second – 120) and the 2016-17 club (third – 118).
Game Day Storylines
- Colorado State has been one of the nation's top defensive teams during sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams' tenure, and the Rams are once again this season. CSU ranks sixth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.347) this season, 11th nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (.271) and 29th nationally in scoring defense (56.9 allowed per game).
- Senior guard Stine Austgulen ranks as one of the NCAA's elite sharpshooters so far this season, as her .448 three-point field goal percentage ranks 11th in the nation. Her 2.2 three-pointers per game in conference play rank fourth in the Mountain West.
- As a team, one of Colorado State's most favorable national statistical rankings is in the turnovers column. The Rams commit just 12.5 turnovers per game, which ranks 28th in the nation. Additionally, CSU has the nation's 32nd-lowest rate of personal fouls per game (14.6).
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy leads the team in scoring, and ranks 16th in the conference with 11.9 points per game. She is also 13th in the league in rebounding, corralling 6.2 boards per game. Additionally, the senior ranks 13th in the MW in field goal percentage (.451) and 11th in three-point field goal percentage (.364).
- Each of Annie Brady, Veronika Mirkovic, Sofie Tryggedsson and Austgulen are also ranked in the conference in rebounding. Brady places 16th (6.0/game) and Mirkovic is 23rd (5.0/game), while each of Tryggedsson and Austgulen are 38th (3.7/game).
- In addition to rebounding, Brady is also ranked in the conference in field goal percentage (14th - .445).
- Tryggedsson also ranks within the conference's top 15 in three-point field goals made per game (1.5).
- Mirkovic averages 0.7 blocks per game, which places her 15th in the league.
- Tvrdy ranks near the top of the league in minutes played, placing second with 35.6 per game. Austgulen is fifth with 33.6 minutes played per game.
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu's 12 made field goals against San Diego State on Jan. 3 are the third-most in a single game by any Mountain West player this season, as are Tvrdy's 12 against the Aztecs at home on Jan. 24. In addition, Colaivalu's 26 points against Boise State on Dec. 28, 2017 were the most by any player in a conference opener this season.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game over her first four conference games marks the best two-week start to Mountain West play in terms of scoring for any freshman in the Ryun Williams era.
- Freshman guard Lore Devos paced the Rams with 25 points in her collegiate debut against Idaho. No other CSU player has scored as many points in her debut in the now-six-year Ryun Williams era.
Scouting the Western Illinois Leathernecks
- The Western Illinois Leathernecks placed third in the Summit League in 2017-18, placing behind only South Dakota and South Dakota State. WIU went 22-9 with a 10-4 conference record, and lost only to USD and SDSU in league play before a loss to the Jackrabbits in the conference tournament.
- Among the notable wins for the Leathernecks this season was a 71-64 win at then-No. 18 Stanford on Dec. 18, 2017. WIU and CSU share two other common opponents, Gonzaga and Denver. The Rams defeated both teams, while the Leathernecks defeated Denver (118-93) and fell at Gonzaga (80-65).
- Offensively, Western Illinois ranks favorably among all NCAA schools in several major categories. WIU makes the third-most three-point field goals in the nation, and ranks 12th in scoring offense (81.6) as well as 22nd in scoring margin ( 15.0). The Leathernecks are also 12 in assists per game (18.0), 12th in personal fouls per game (13.5), seventh in steals per game (12.5) and fifth in turnover margin ( 7.5).
- Western Illinois' top player is Emily Clemens, who leads the team in scoring (18.2 points/game) and ranks fifth nationally in assists (7.5/game) as well as 10th nationally in steals (3.3/game). WIU's Taylor Higginbotham averages 16.5 points per game, and ranks 81st in the NCAA in three-point field goal percentage (.378). Morgan Blumer ranks 96th in that category (.372), as well as 47th in three-point field goals made per game (2.7).
Rams in the Postseason for the Fifth Consecutive Season
- The Colorado State women's basketball team is set to return to the postseason for the fifth consecutive season, as the Rams received an at-large bid to the 2018 Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). The organization announced its bracket on Monday, March 13.
- This marks the fourth WNIT appearance for Colorado State in the past five years under head coach Ryun Williams (2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17). Sandwiched in between those WNIT berths was an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016, the program's first since 2002.
- CSU had only made as many consecutive postseason appearances once in program history, with that streak occurring over 10 seasons ago (1998-04).
- Last season, Colorado State defeated Saint Mary's in the opening round of the Postseason WNIT, marking the program's first postseason win since 2003.
Hannah Tvrdy, Grace Colaivalu Earn Mountain West Honors for 2017-18 Regular Season
- Senior guard Hannah Tvrdy and freshman guard Grace Coalivalu of the Colorado State women's basketball team have received yearly honors from the Mountain West for their play during the 2017-18 regular season. The conference announced its accolades on Monday, March 5. Tvrdy earned All-Mountain West and Mountain West All-Defensive honors, while Colaivalu was selected to the Mountain West All-Freshman team.
- Tvrdy is the third Ram to be chosen All-Defensive since the accolade was first awarded in 2008-09 (Ellen Nystrom, Meghan Heimstra). Colaivalu is the first Mountain West All-Freshman selection from CSU since Elin Gustavsson and Ellen Nystrom in 2013-14.
- Tvrdy finished the season as the Rams' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in conference play. The Seward, Neb., native ranked ninth in the Mountain West in scoring in conference play, as well as ninth in rebounding, 10th in three-point field goal percentage (.384), fourth in defensive rebounding (5.3/game) and second in minutes played (35.4/game) in league games.
- Colaivalu finished the regular season as CSU's No. 3 scorer (7.8 points per game during conference play), and ranked 13th in the Mountain West and third among conference freshmen in field goal percentage (.464). The freshman from Sacramento, Calif., averaged 22 points per game over the Rams' first four Mountain West games this season, marking the highest average in any player's first four conference games in the Ryun Williams era.
Is 71 a Magic Number for the Rams?
- Under sixth-year coach Ryun Williams, the Colorado State women's basketball team has scored 71 points or more in a single game 56 times. When scoring at least 71 points in Williams' tenure, Colorado State is 56-1, with no losses in regulation.
- When scoring at least 71 points in a game in 2017-18, Colorado State is 6-0.
- The only loss ever suffered by CSU with a 71-point-plus offensive performance under Williams was on Nov. 29, 2014, an 87-81 double-overtime defeat at Colorado.
Finding the Right Combination
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has shuffled its lineup throughout the season, using 12 different starting lineup combinations between the 31 games it has played.
- While the Rams have used many different combinations, the makeup of most of those have been consistent. Each of Stine Austgulen, Veronika Mirkovic, Sofie Tryggedsson and Hannah Tvrdy have started at least 20 games this season.
- Colorado State has used four different lineups over the past eight games, but the majority of those lineups has remained the same. Austgulen, Tryggedsson and Tvrdy have been in each of those lineups, with the only position changing at forward (Annie Brady, Liah Davis or Mirkovic) or one guard position (Lore Devos/Jordyn Edwards).
Rams Earn No. 5 Seed in 2018 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship
- The Colorado State women's basketball team finished the 2017-18 regular season with a 19-10 overall record and 11-7 conference mark. With those results, Colorado State earned the No. 5 seed in the 2017 Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship.
- With its No. 5 seed this year, Colorado State earned a first-round bye in tournament play. The Rams have had a first-round bye in each of the five most recent conference tournaments.
- Colorado State had never previously been the No. 5 seed at the Mountain West Women's Basketball Championship. The Rams had only previously played as the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 8 or No. 9 seed in prior seasons.
- The last time a No. 5 seed won the MW Women's Basketball Championship was in 2011, when No. 5-seeded Utah came out on top in tournament play.
Ryun Williams Becomes CSU's All-Time Wins Leader
- With the Rams' over Wyoming on Jan. 31, sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams became the winningest coach in program history. That win was his 130th at Colorado State, passing former CSU coaching great Tom Collen for the program's all-time wins lead (129 for Collen from 1997-2002).
- Ryun Williams is also one of only three coaches in program history to win at least 100 games with the Rams, earning his 100th with the Rams' 70-67 overtime over San Jose State on Jan. 4, 2017.He joined Tom Collen and Greg Williams (108 wins).
- Ryun Williams already owns the most conference wins in program history, entering the season with a program-best 70 in Mountain West play. The previous record was held by Collen, who won 56 conference games as CSU head coach from 1997-02.
Hannah Tvrdy Named Mountain West Player of the Week on Jan. 29
- After averaging 22.0 points per game on .631 shooting (19-for-31) and 9.5 rebounds per game between wins over San Diego State and New Mexico, Hannah Tvrdy was named Mountain West Player of the Week. Her honor was announced on Monday, Jan. 29.
- Colorado State led SDSU by six at halftime in their win over the Aztecs, but it was a Tvrdy offensive outburst in the third quarter that put the game on ice. In that quarter, Tvrdy went 8-for-10 from the floor, pouring in 18 points to give the Rams a 65-38 lead heading to the fourth. CSU went on to win 72-43 as Tvrdy finished with 28 points on 12-for-18 shooting along with 10 rebounds.
- Tvrdy led CSU offensively once against in the Rams' 74-71 overtime win over New Mexico, scoring 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting with nine boards and a trio of assists. Her late-game heroics lifted the team once again, as she buried the go-ahead three-pointer with less than a minute remaining in extra time to give the Rams the win.
Colaivalu Lights Up Scoreboards in First Two Weeks of Mountain West Play
- Freshman guard Grace Colaivalu has made the most of her first opportunities at Mountain West action. In her first four career conference games, Colaivalu scored 88 points for an average of 22 points per game.
- Colaivalu's 22 points per game were not just the most on the team – they were the most of any player in the Mountain West through two weeks.
- No freshman during the now-six-season Ryun Williams era has scored more points in her first four career Mountain West games. See below for a breakdown.
Most Points by CSU Freshmen in First Four MW Games Under Ryun Williams
88 (22.0 points per game) – Grace Colaivalu, 2017-18
54 (13.5 points per game) – Caitlin Duffy, 2012-13
40 (10.0 points per game) – Elin Gustavsson, 2013-14
Rams Set Tradition of Strong Defensive Play
- Since taking over the program prior to the 2012-13 season, head coach Ryun Williams has made strong defense a cornerstone of his vision for the program's success. Over the past four years, the Rams' defense has ranked among the nation's elite.
- Over the past four seasons, Colorado State has ranked no lower than 15th in the nation in field goal percentage defense. The Rams have ranked as high as second in the nation, and have previously placed within the nation's top six twice.
- See below for a breakdown of the Rams' national field goal percentage defense ranks over the past four years of Williams' tenure.
Notable National Field Goal Percentage Defense Ranks Under Ryun Williams
2017-18 – Fourth (.339)
2016-17 – Sixth (.339)
2015-16 – Second (.330)
2014-15 – 15th (.354)
Rams Match Second-Best 10-Game Start of Ryun Williams Era
- With its win over Prairie View A&M on Monday, Dec. 18, the Colorado State women's basketball team moved to 7-3 for the 2017-18 season, matching its second-best 10-game start under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams.
- Only one Williams-led CSU team compiled a better record through 10 games. The 2015-16 Rams went 9-1 through their first 10 contests before finishing with a 31-2 mark and a program record for win percentage (.939).
- Under Williams, every team to win at least six of its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular-season title and win at least 23 games.
Colorado State Under Ryun Williams in First 10 Games (Sorted by Best Start)
2015-16 – 9-1
2017-18 – 7-3
2014-15 – 7-3
2013-14 – 7-3
2016-17 – 6-4
2012-13 – 3-7
Annie Brady Named Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week
- After recording double-doubles against each of Prairie View A&M and Morgan State, Colorado State junior forward Annie Brady has been named the Mountain West Women's Basketball Player of the Week. The conference announced Brady's honor on Tuesday, Dec. 26.
- Over those two games, the junior averaged 18.5 points per game on .581 (18-for-31) shooting and corralled 15.5 rebounds per game.
- Her first double-double of the week came in a 19-point, 14-rebound (seven offensive) effort in the Rams' 71-59 win over PVAMU. She followed that with an 18-point, 17-rebound performance to lead CSU to a 60-44 win over Morgan State in the Rams' nonconference finale. Brady shot 9-for-13 (.692) from the floor in that game.
- This marks the first weekly conference honor for Brady since she joined the Rams prior to this season. The Salt Lake City, Utah native is also the first Ram to receive one of the league's weekly honors this season.
Devos Makes Historic Debut for Rams
- Freshman guard Lore Devos made her first official appearance for Colorado State on Friday, Nov. 10 in the Rams' season-opener against Idaho. The Kortrijk, Belgium native opened her CSU career with 25 points, the most by any CSU freshman in a season opener in head coach Ryun Williams' six-year tenure.
- Devos was the Rams' leading scorer against Idaho, scoring her 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the floor and 5-for-5 shooting from the free throw line.
- The only other player to score at least 20 points in her debut for Williams was two-time Mountain West Player of the Year Ellen Nystrom. The former CSU standout from Sweden scored 20 points in her first career game for CSU, a win over UCCS on Nov. 8, 2013.
Most Points Scored by a CSU Freshman in a Season Opener Under Ryun Williams
Lore Devos (2017-18 season) – 25 points
Ellen Nystrom (2013-14 season) – 20 points
Taylor Varsho (2012-13 season) – 19 points
Callie Kaiser (2015-16 season) – 13 points
Elin Gustavsson (2013-14 season) – 10 points
Quick 2017-18 Season Storylines
- The Colorado State women's basketball team is off to a 7-3 start this season, matching its second-best 10-game start of the now-six-year Ryun Williams era. Each CSU team with at least seven wins in its first 10 games has gone on to win the Mountain West regular season title and at least 23 games.
- Colorado State is fresh off its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, distinguishing the program as one of 12 teams in the nation – women's and men's basketball – to have an active streak at least that long.
- No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won as many regular-season conference titles consecutively. In addition, the Rams have won all four of those outright. Of teams to win consecutive MW regular-season titles, no other team has won more than two outright.
- Colorado State was picked to finish third in the conference this season by league coaches and select media. The Rams received six first-place votes en route to 211 points and that third place projection. The Rams rank behind only Boise State (seven FPV, 221 points) and Wyoming (six FPV, 216 points).
- The Rams return three of five starters and seven letterwinners from last year's team. Hannah Tvrdy is the Rams' returning leader in each of points (8.3), rebounds (4.6) and assists (2.4) per game.
- CSU also looks to be solid from beyond the three-point arc this season. The Rams return 80 percent of their three-point production from last season, as 203 of 255 threes made last year were made by returning players.
- Mixing with that veteran core returning for Colorado State is a group of eight underclassmen, as sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams grooms one of the youngest CSU rosters over his tenure. In terms of what percentage of the roster is made up of freshmen and sophomores (53.3 percent), CSU ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team.
- Although the Rams' roster is largely composed of youth, the Mountain West also looks to be one of the nation's youngest conferences. The Rams are the fifth-youngest team in the conference when measured by the same criteria above.
Rams' Four Consecutive Regular-Season Conference Titles Ranks Among Nation's Elite
- The Colorado State women's basketball team made history this past season by winning its fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. That feat had never been previously accomplished by any women's or men's basketball team in conference history.
- That active streak of four consecutive regular-season conference titles ranks the Rams among the nation's elite. Between both women's and men's NCAA Division I basketball, only 11 other programs in the nation have a current streak that is as long or better.
- On the women's side, the programs are Baylor, Chattanooga, Connecticut, DePaul, Green Bay, Notre Dame and defending national champion South Carolina.
- Only four men's teams have a streak at least as long at the CSU women: Gonzaga, Kansas, Villanova and Wichita State.
Regular-Season Conference Titles Won – Best Active Division I Streaks (Women's and Men's Basketball)
Kansas (men's) – 13 (Big 12)
Green Bay (women's) – 11 (Horizon)
Baylor (women's) – Seven (Big 12)
Chattanooga (women's) – Five (Southern)
Gonzaga (men's) – Five (West Coast)
Wichita State (men's) – Five (Missouri Valley)
Colorado State (women's) – Four (Mountain West)
Connecticut (women's) – Four (American)
DePaul (women's) – Four (Big East)
South Carolina (women's) – Four (SEC)
Villanova (men's) – Four (Big East)
Rams Enter 2017-18 as One of Nation's Youngest Teams
- While the Rams' 2017-18 roster is largely made of a veteran group of seven upperclassmen, the bulk of the Rams' roster this season comes from the ranks of underclassmen. A combined eight freshmen and sophomores make up 53.3 percent (eight of 15) of the roster, while the six freshmen make up 40 percent.
- In terms of what percentage of the roster is comprised of underclassmen, Colorado State ranks as the nation's 18th-youngest team. If measured by percentage of freshman relative to the overall roster, CSU's 40 percent is the 10th-highest in the nation.
- However, the Mountain West also shapes up to be a very young conference this season. Each of San Jose State (80 percent), Utah State (76.9 percent), Air Force (76.5 percent) and Fresno State (69 percent) are younger than Colorado State by underclassmen on the roster.
Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Underclassmen
1. UNCG – 87.7 percent
2. FIU – 80 percent
2. San Jose State – 80 percent
4. Utah State – 76.9 percent
5. Air Force – 76.5 percent
12. Fresno State – 69 percent
18. Colorado State – 53.3 percent
Youngest Division I Teams by Percentage of Freshmen
1. Savannah State – 64.3 percent
1. Fordham – 64.3 percent
3. Air Force – 58.8 percent
4. San Jose State – 53 percent
5. FIU – 50 percent
5. Elon – 50 percent
10. Colorado State – 40 percent
Rams Projected to Finish Third in the Mountain West in 2017-18
- The Colorado State women's basketball team has been voted by league coaches and select media to finish third in the Mountain West in 2017-18, as announced by the conference on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
- Colorado State, which is coming off an unprecedented fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West title, earned 211 points and six first-place votes en route to its third-place projection. The only team to earn more first-place votes was Boise State, which received a league-best 221 points and was picked to win the conference by seven voters. Wyoming (216 points, six first-place votes) narrowly edged CSU for second in the voting.
- New Mexico and UNLV, which were picked fourth and fifth respectively, were the only other schools to receive first-place votes. The Lobos received four first-place votes and 186 points, while the Lady Rebels received 185 points were picked No. 1 by two voters.
- The Rams had been picked to win the Mountain West in each of the past three preseason Mountain West polls and four times overall. Behind only those three first-place projections, this is the Rams' fourth-highest projection under sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams. The Rams were picked seventh before winning the conference in 2013-14 and fifth before Williams first season at CSU (2012-13).
2017-18 Mountain West Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
Rank/Team (First-Place Votes) - Points
1. Boise State (7 FPV) - 221 points
2. Wyoming (6) - 216
3. Colorado State (6) - 211
4. New Mexico (4) - 186
5. UNLV (2) - 185
6. Utah State - 136
7. Fresno State - 117
8. San Diego State - 102
9. San José State - 61
10. Nevada - 60
11. Air Force - 29
Rams Return Bulk of Production from Three-Point Range
- Although the Rams lost substantial production in many categories with the departure of last year's senior class, one area the team did not lose much in is three-point shooting. As a team, the Rams return 80 percent of their three-point field goals made from last season.
- 203 of the 255 threes made by the Rams last year were made by returning players. Stine Austgulen led the Rams last season with 53 three-point field goals made.
- Austgulen and Hannah Tvrdy return as two of the top three-point shooters in the Mountain West, ranking No. 14 and No. 7 in three-point field goal percentage last season, respectively.
- Notably, junior Myanne Hamm ranked fifth in MW in three-point field goal percentage during conference play (.400), while junior Sofie Tryggedsson ranked 14th in the MW with 1.5 three-point field goals per game during conference play.
Dropping Knowledge
- Colorado State head coach Ryun Williams has been selected as one of 32 voters for the USA TODAY Sports Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. The panel, which is chosen by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), votes weekly throughout the regular season.
- The voters are chosen based upon the 32 conferences that receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Each conference has one representative, and the names of the voters are published along with each week's poll.
The 2016-17 Season at a Glance
- Colorado State accomplished many feats in 2016-17, but none was greater than winning its historic fourth consecutive regular-season Mountain West championship. No other basketball team in Mountain West history – women's or men's – has won the conference in four consecutive seasons other than the CSU women.
- CSU reached the postseason for the fourth straight season under now-sixth-year head coach Ryun Williams with an automatic berth to the Postseason WNIT. The Rams defeated Saint Mary's at Moby Arena in the first round of the tournament, marking the Rams' first postseason win since 2003.
- On Dec. 18, 2016, CSU defeated Seattle, 66-62, to record the team's 22nd consecutive win at Moby Arena. That broke the previous record for consecutive wins at home, which was previously 21 straight from 1998-99.
- The Rams also set two different records for consecutive conference wins between the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The Rams had won 22 straight games against conference foes when including postseason games, and 25 games against conference opponents in regular-season contests.
- Overall, the CSU's 25 wins tie for the fourth-most in program history, while the Rams' 15 conference wins tie for the second-most in program history.
- Ryun Williams posted his fourth consecutive season with 15 Mountain West wins or more, bringing his career MW record to 70-18. His current MW win percentage of .795 ranks as the best of any coach in Mountain West history.
- Williams also became the third coach in program history to reach 100 wins at CSU, and has the second-most wins at CSU (115) in school history. Tom Collen owns the all-time record with 129 wins at CSU.
- Williams' 70 Mountain West wins also rank as by far the most conference wins in CSU history.
- Ellen Nystrom, who graduated after the 2016-17 season, repeated as Mountain West Player of the Year after earning that honor in 2015-16. The Rams have had the conference player of the year in three consecutive seasons, as Gritt Ryder earned honor as a senior in 2014-15.
- Nystrom and fellow 2016-17 senior Elin Gustavsson departed CSU as the winningest players in conference play in Mountain West history. The senior duo from Sweden won 63 MW games over their careers at CSU, which is by far the most of any athlete – women's or men's basketball – in conference history.